Utility bracket



NW- 25, 1958 G. M. GIBSON l 2,861,353

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Nav. 25, 1958 G. M. `GIBSON UTILITY BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.y 23, 1956 United States Patent UTILITY BRACKET George M. Gibson, Bellevue, Iowa Application February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,124

12 Claims. (Cl. 311-17) This invention relates to a utility bracket or supporting mechanism including retractible and store away features.

More specifically the invention is directed to a bracket arrangement particularly adapted for domestic appliances such as removable top washing machines or for any other analogous device that is equipped with a removable cover, which as hereinafter described, coacts to form an auxiliary support or leaf in cooperation with the bracket arrangement.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a supplemental tray, auxiliary table top or leaf by converting the cover of a washing machine from its use as a cover into use as a work support or surface as an extended or overhanging unit sturdily so held by means of a foldable or store away bracket construction.

Another object of the invention is the simplicity of the bracket parts and its ease of assembly with a washing machine together with its retraction into a cavity portion of the machine to be out of the way when not in use for supporting or bracing the machine cover as an auxiliary work surface or to be similarly used for the same purpose to carry any form of auxiliary work surface that may be adapted and arranged for this use.

As another object this invention provides a means to conveniently store the power cord in the same housing area that is provided for the collapsed bracket parts when disposed in stored position.

Other objects and advantages relating to the utility bracket constructed according to the general concept of this invention as will hereinafter be set forth shall appear in the following detailed description directed to the several embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, reference being had to such drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a washing machine of the character having a top or cover thereover when not in use and which machine incorporates a utility bracket of the present invention that functions with the cover to supply an auxiliary `support or work surface arranged to one side of the washing machine proper;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. l with bracket and cover both in operative positions;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary face View of the bracket side of the machine with the utility bracket disposed in folded position and as it is used to hold a looped power cord in a recess or niche in the machine side that also stores the bracket parts;

Fig. 4 is a similar view as Fig. 3, but with a modified bracket shown in folded position and including several other constructional features; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the arrangement Shown in Fig. 4, but with the bracket now illustrated 2 in an operative position extending laterally .outwardly from the machine side and away from its houslng recess.

Although this description is more specifically directed to a washing machine of the character illustrated and which machine also includes a wringer structure as more completely disclosed and described in my copending application Serial No. 520,791, filed July 8,` 1955, the 1nvention is not to be limited to this particular embodiment or installation.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a washing machine 1 has an upper casting or top 2 with rim portions 3 and 4 all normally supporting a cover 5 thereover when the machine is not in use. Casting or top 2 is in this case provided with a drain board 6 leading from a wringer 7 to the machine edge and the casting is arranged to house suitable wringer rolls 8, one of which appears in Figs. l and 2, so that cover 5 forms a table top over the machine per se. The machine includes a tub 9 and a wrap around panel or housing 10 encircling the tub and machine mechanisms thus forming an ornamental exterior for the appliance.

The panel 10 is connected with the top casting or casing 2 through screws 11 that thread into lugs 12 carried by said top, the lower portion of the panel being suitably connected with the machine mechanism supporting frame part of which is shown at 13 in Fig. 2. The panel 1t) is preferably a continuous sheet unit arid in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 terminates with vertically arranged inturned flanges 14 and 15 at its ends to provide a recess or chamber 16 therebetween and along the side of the tub 9. This recess may be suitably closed inwardly to form a predetermined cavity or housing area as will more fully be described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 showing a modified arrangement of the invention.

The utility bracket 17 comprises two coacting bails 18 and 19 of formed rod stock to establish cooperative configurations for these members. Each bail in its U-shaped form as seen in Fig. l is inherently a spring unit with the parallel legs of each, respectively, formed slightly diverging outwardly from the connecting foot portions thereof.

Bail 1S has side legs 20 and 21 connected together through an offset foot 22 so positioned by the angularly disposed end legs 23 and 24. The free ends of legs 20 and 21 are provided with oppositely outwardly disposed pivotal tips 25 and 26 that are aligned and which are pivotally connected through aligned openings 27 and 28 in flanges 14 and 15. Each leg 20 and 21 includes offset sections 29 and 30 intermediate their lengths to narrow the end width of bail 18 while aligning the machine ends of legs 20 and 21 with the adjacent face portions of the flanges 14 and 15 of panel 10.

Bail 19 has side legs 31 and 32 that are connected by the diagonally arranged bail tip ends 33 and 34 ferning a centrally positioned terminal point .35. Each leg 31 and 32 is made with opposite outwardly arranged pivotal stubs 36 and 37 that are aligned and which ride through aligned openings 38 and 39 formed in flanges 14 and 15.

Since the pairs of legs 20-21 and 31--32 are each possessed with some inherent outward spring they will frictionally bear against the adjacent faces of the flanges 14 and 15. This prevents looseness and rattle and also serves to orient bails 18 and 19 to cooperate and function in stabilized relation in their designed capacities. Each bail is assembled with its corresponding machine to function flange openings by grasping the bals and first urging the legs together to insert the pivotal parts thereof between flanges 14 and 15 and to then let these pivotal ends spread and open up with the pivot parts entering their respective aligned openings in flanges 14 and 15.`

The bracket arrangement is disposed in operative position in Figs. 1 and 2. The cover 5 is in full lines in Fig. 1 while its supported and removed position is shown at Sain dot and dash lines. In Fig. 2 the cover 5 isshown supported by the bracket 17 and the cover appears at,5b in dot and dash lines upon the casing or casting 2.

In order to prevent cover displacement'rand to provide a cooperative means .which coacts with the bracket to keep the-cover in its selected useful work surface position, the casting2 has adownwardly formed lip 40 extending along a straightedgethereof and which isspaced outwardly with respect to the panel as seen in Figs. Al and 2. The cover 5 is providedwith a peripheralbead 41 that outlines the cover and which follows each straight edge thereof. Cover Sfis normally supported face ldownV as shownat 5b in Fig. 2 and when the :bracketparts lare to beV used, the cover is hooked runder .the lip .4flfwith its bead 41, and the bracket parts are then moved into Athe coacting relationship shown .in Fig. 2 to. receiveand hold cover 5 thereon andlaterally. outwardly of the machinev 1.

The bracket 17 is .operatively` positioned :by first swinging bail 18 upwardly. a sufficient amount .to receive the pointed end of bail 19 thereunder and 4into a position wherein the point 35 can pass the transverseV foot 22 tof bail 18. Then bail 18 .is brought downwiththe point 35 passing between the end vlegs '23.and 24 of bail/18 to have the diagonal tip ends l33 and 34 engage..thel side portions of legs23 and 24 to center the pair of 4bailsand to lock the bail 18 in resting position upon thebailV 19. By proportioning the lengths of the two bails 4asishown, bail 18 is angled downwardly and outwardly'as in- Fig-2 to also carry the cover 5 as a work surface or shallow Lpan at the same inclination tothe horizontal.

The washing machine 1 receives its electrical energy through a power cord42 having a connecting plug 43 and the cord enters the panel 10 through a grommet44 carried in an opening in the panel 10. If desired lthecord 42 may be trained over one of the bails such asv19-in one or moreA loops in readiness for use or 'during use Viflong enough, when the bracket lis in operative shelf orf-cover supporting position. However, when the machine is not in use, cover 5 is returned to casting-2 andthe cord-may then be easily looped as desired over the bracket .parts and stored in chamber or recess 16 by collapsing-'the bails 18 and 19 upon the cord as best illustrated in Fig. 3. The frictional reaction of the bail legs and other adjacent sections thereof such as the pivotal leg ends will all cooperate to hold the retracted bracket inplace in the recess 16 and to keep the-cord 42 in housed relation in the machine.

Referring nowv more specifically to Figs. 4 and 5,* the bracket 45 comprises a pair of coacting bails46 and 47 that are pivotally carried upon their respective outturned ends or pivotal tips 48 and 49 in fianges 5f) and 5'1 on' a panel 52 providing a decorative apron or housing exterior for a machine 53. In this arrangement the bails 46and 47 operate into and out `of a recess or chamber 54 provided in the side of the vmachine as bracket means to support a cover or shelf unit such as shown at 55 in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5.

The panel 52 and its flanges 50 and 51 are extended in this form to provide predetermined closure means by including wings 56 and 57 lthat are here shown in contact with the tub wall 58. Thus a deep vertical recess or chamber 54 lines the machine and forms the retraction space wherein to receive the bails 46 and 47. In addition, both bails are provided with narrow'intermedi'ate portions whichare shown at 59 by the closer leg spacings on bail 46 and at 60 by the closer leg spacings on ball 47. With this variation in design acord such as 61 may have some of its length coiled about the bail 46 as at 62 and some of its length coiled about the bail 47 as at,63 to maintain the cord 61 in the recess 54 with the inoperatively positioned bails 46 and 47. i

This arrangement shows the lower bail 47 ,as formed with a straight transverse foot 64 to engage under the downturned offset hook end 65 of the upper bail 46 to provide cooperative bracket stabilizing means of a slightly different design. The rest of the general structure used in Figs. 4 and 5 is the same as that of the first described form of the invention.

The foregoing specification has been directed to several preferred forms of the invention. VCertain changes in the individual elements and in the combinations thereof are contemplated without departure from the fundamental concept of the invention. Such modifications shall,'how ever, be governed by the breadth and scope of the language defining the invention in the appended claimed subject matter.

What I claim is:

l. A bracket structure to engage a portion of an overhangingshelf .member in a vpredetermined-relation.with respect to a device supportingsaid bracketand member comprising in combination, spaced walls on said device forming a recess therebetween, a pair ofubails pivotally carried at vertically separatedflocations on said `spaced walls, said bails having coacting interlockingportions thereon to preposition saidV bails in a given position with respect toA each other and outwardly wth respect/to said deviceand in contact with said shelf member, said bails being independently operable and swingably separable to pivot relative. to said walls and into the recess provided therebetween.

2. In a bracket structure as set forth and defined in claim 1, wherein said bails are provided With outwardly biased spring legs carrying the pivotal means thereon, said walls being apertured to receive said pivotal means through said apertures, andl said spring legs Vhaving yfrictional engagement with said walls to hold said bails in selected positions relatively to said walls and lin relation to their pivotal axes.

3. In a bracket structure as set forth anddefined in claim l, wherein one bail has an offset hook end and the other kof said bails is provided with a configuration adapted to engage said hook end of said first bailas the bails are revolving into predetermined outwardly disposed shelf member engaging positionswherein said bails lock against free downward movement.

4. In a bracket structure as setrv forth and defined in claim l, wherein said device includes a power supply cord and said bracket provides means to abut storedY portions of said cord when the latter is disposed within said wall formed recess, said bails being generally of recess width with at least one of said bails Vhaving a narrow portion along its length to accommodate looped portions of said cord and to hold said cord 'in said recess when `the bails are revolved into said recess.

5. -A bracket to support a table top thereon comprising a palr 'of swingably supported U-shaped members, said members coactingto have their `free ends engaged when said members are disposed in predetermined tabletop supporting positions, one of said members having a transverse foot carried by legs in a position offset with respect to the general plane of said one member, the otherfof said members having a tapered tip end thereon providing a point, said point being provided to pass over said foot and between said legs yof said one member with said tapered tip end disposed in direct lateral contact with 'the legs to lock the two-members in a given predetermined table top supporting position.

6. A bracket to carry a table top thereon comprising a pair of bail members, a support for said membershaving spaced walls with a, chamber therebetween, said bail members being pivotall'y connected with said spaced walls to swing into and out of said chamber, and ooactingfmeans on said members to lock the same in `a given position outwardlydisposed with respectto said chamber to sup port the table top upon said bail members.

7. In a bracket of the character set forth and deined in claim 6, wherein said bracket members are independently pivoted on said walls on vertically separated axes with said bail members being substantially of chamber width, said members being adapted to swing into a common plane within said chamber and in overlapping relation to each other, the external configuration of one member being different than the external configuration of the other of members at said overlap to accommodate nesting of said members within said chamber.

8. In a bracket of the character set forth in claim 6, wherein the lateral side legs of said bail members are constructed from .spring material with the legs of each bail biased outwardly with respect to each other and disposed in frictional contact with said spaced walls to counteract free swinging `of said bail members, said walls having aligned openings therein for each bail member, and wherein said legs of each of said members are provided With oppositely outwardly positioned pivotal tips to engage through corresponding aligned openings in said walls, said spring material leg members of each bail functioning to maintain their pivotal tips in the wall openings and comprising means for the selective release of said pivotal tips for disassembly by forceful compression of the legs of either of said members toward one another.

9. A positioning device to engage a portion of a shelf unit to hold said unit in a given supported position comprising a fixed support, a pair of frame members having pivotal connection at separated locations upon said fixed support, one of said frame members having spaced angularly positioned legs extending therefrom, the other of said members having a tapered section thereon to engage with both of said spaced extended legs and therebetween, said frame members being oriented and locked in given projected positions relative to their fixed support through independent swinging movement thereof upon their pivotal connections, said tapered section .and said legs coact ing to lock said frame members in shelf unit supporting relation and providing means to counteract lateral swinging movement of said frame members when they are disposed in such projected and shelf unit supporting positions.

10. In a positioning device as in claim 9 wherein said legs are downwardly positioned from said one frame member when the latter is outwardly projected with respect to said fixed support, and said tapered section of the other of said frame members is lof greater width than the distance between said spaced legs to simultaneously engage side portions of both of said legs, said tapered section having locking contact with said one frame member at the juncture of the legs with said one frame member.

11. A positioning device to engage .a predetermined portion of a shelf forming table top having one part thereof releasably held by suitable means connected with an appliance unit, said device comprisinga completely separable two piece bracket, pivotal means on said appliance to swingably carry each of said pieces upon said appliance, and interlocking means connected with each of said two pieces and rendered operable upon the swinging of said two pieces into predetermined extended positions with respect to each other, one of said pieces forming a ledge portion to underlie said table top for the proper positioning and for the support of the engaged portion thereof.

12. A positioning device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said two bracket pieces are made for retraction into a common plane for storage purposes when actuated into an inoperative relation with respect to said appliance, said pivotal means occupying prelocated separated positions whereby said pieces are caused to overlap in said common plane, said pieces each being provided with external configurations to avoid physical contact or interference while they are disposed in said stored location.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 542,318 Sjoholm July 9, 1895 597,537 Campbell Ian. 18, 1898 690,072 Norton Dec. 3l, 1901 1,232,874 Whealen July 10, 1917 1,607,887 Fowler Nov. 23, 1926 1,859,221 Richard May 17, 1932 2,160,990 Sagner June 6, 1939 2,511,451 Able June 13, 1950 

